Surrey have been the dominant side in the County Championship over the past three years, doing the three-peat under the captaincy of former England opener Rory Burns and head coach Gareth Batty. While they're the favourites to win the 2025 edition as well, who are the best-placed sides to dethrone them?
Somerset
Somerset strengthened well over the winter with re-signing Migael Pretorius, who was with them in 2024. Despite losing Sonny Baker to Hampshire in the off-season, they have brought in one of the most in-form bowlers in the world and New Zealand attack-leader Matt Henry who will be available for seven Championship fixtures until the end of June.
Tom Banton will also be another key figure. He averaged a touch under 50 with the bat in the 2024 edition and alongside Tom Lammonby who also enjoyed an improved 2024, as well as Tom Abell and James Rew, Somerset boast one of the most stacked middle orders in the country. That could also be bolstered by the return of Will Smeed to red ball cricket after his retirement U-turn over the winter.
Somerset will also have the services of Jack Leach from the start of the season this year, while Shoaib Bashir spends time out on loan at Glamorgan. Combined with Archie Vaughan, as well as potentially having Bashir back later in the season what's usually a spinning wicket at Taunton with two of their three September fixtures set to be played at home, another late charge could be on the cards. A vital run of games for the side, however, will be three consecutive matches against Hampshire, Surrey and Essex at the end of the first block of matches. While Somerset launched a late challenge last year, building it on early season success will be the key to making their campaign successful this year, and those three games could make or break their season.
Following a winter of uncertainty in England’s Test setup, Jack Leach speaks to Katya Witney about his bid to regain his place, and nailing the simple things.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) March 29, 2025
Read here ➡️ https://t.co/hJQjWyCzEp pic.twitter.com/y21N9KBwaN
Essex
Essex arguably have the best and most consistent bowling attack in the country with Jamie Porter, Sam Cook and Shane Snater all in last year's top ten wicket-takers. Cook was particularly effective with the Kookaburra ball, and continuing that success while others struggle is a helpful point of difference. Simon Harmer consistently underpinning the fast-bowling completes an Essex attack that has consistently challenged Surrey over the last two seasons. However, a potential England call-up for Sam Cook has the potential to hamper their efforts this year.
Another key to getting their Surrey challenge over the line this year will be another successful season for Jordan Cox. Cox's form with the bat early last year meant that Essex only lost one game in their first nine rounds, combined with consistent run-volume from Dean Elgar at the top, who returns this year, and decent returns from captain Tom Westley, and Essex have a pretty complete unit.
However, their start to the season couldn’t be any harder as they host Surrey at Chelmsford in the opening round. However, working in their favour is a potentially easier run of games mid-season when England call-ups will be most likely to affect player-availability if they come. But grinding out those early results will be key.
🗣️ "Looking at the data, Sam Cook is by so far the best bowler in the County Championship" 👏
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) March 26, 2025
– 53 matches since 2020
– 217 wickets @ 16.90
– 42.02 strike rate
Does the Essex seamer deserve an England Test call-up this summer? 🏴
🤝 @remitly pic.twitter.com/T9AHkxp5td
Durham
Durham recruited well in the winter and even beforehand for the 2025 summer. Announcing the signing of Emilio Gay during the 2024 season eventually led to him being sent on loan from Northamptonshire to his new team two rounds early.
Despite being an opener during his time at Northamptonshire he slotted in at number three as to not disrupt the opening partnership between Alex Lees and youngster Ben McKinney. Durham will most likely have four left-handers in the top six judging off their recent tour of Zimbabwe, with the fourth being former Warwickshire captain Will Rhodes, who departed his home club at the end of last year. In addition, the return of last year's leading run-scorer David Beddingham completes and even stronger-looking batting lineup than last year, before even getting to wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson.
Durham have fast morphed into a genuine Division One title contender over the last three years, after Ryan Campbell took over as head coach. They blitzed their way to the Division Two title in 2023 before finishing 5th in Division One last year. Their model, built on fast-paced cricket and results, has served them well alongside their battery of fast-bowlers, despite consistently losing personnel to England. They will also get more of New Zealand veteran Neil Wagner this year, who will join the Riverside from the end of June.
While a strong unit, their brand of high-risk cricket means a lot will need to go right for Durham to launch a successful challenge to Surrey this year. They also have a tough final block of games, facing Essex away in early September and travelling to Headingley for their concluding match. It would be a hell of a story, however, for the North East county to win the mace for the first time in over a decade.
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